by on 28/09/2017 951
Ms Esther, the principal of Q Garden, is soft-spoken and looks as if nothing can disturb her calm and patient demeanour. However, she is definitely a determined early childhood educator, no mistakes about it. She works hard and keeps her classes small to make sure all her students know their lessons well.There are also extra classes for subjects like English and Chinese where students are given individual attention to improve their reading and knowledge of the language. For parents who want their children to have that something extra, Q Garden has enrichment classes such as Mental Arithmetic, piano, art & craft and Taekwondo.
Ms Esther focuses on the thematic approach in teaching. This means that areas of the curriculum are connected together and integrated within a theme, for example, animal theme or transportation theme. Using this method, learning becomes more natural as creating connections is believed to be the best way for a child to learn. Testimonies from the students’ parents about their children’s progress confirm that Ms Esther’s teaching methods have been working well.
The kindergarten also focuses on hands-on activities to teach scientific principles.
We make science fun for the children by doing experiments and letting them discover science for themselves. Also, every child has a science kit with which they can try out the science experiments we do here at home with their parents. We tell our parents that in doing this they can help to reinforce what their children have learnt here.Ms Esther
There is also a Science Corner for the children to explore and learn, complete with interesting 3-D models of the Earth, the universe and the human anatomy.
From what we have seen and observed, Q Garden is your typical medium-size friendly neighbourhood kindergarten where parents and children get to enjoy individual attention. Throughout her eight years in operating Q Garden, Ms Esther has had to answer many pleas for urgent assistance from her students’ parents. Wanting a single drop-off before rushing to work in the morning, parents of her students have requested Ms Esther to help out temporarily by taking care of the younger siblings. Sympathising with their dilemma, this has led Ms Esther to start multi-sensory programmes and nursery facilities for the younger ones.
The story does not end here. Even when her students have graduated from her kindergarten and entered primary school, parents come back to ask her to allow their children to come to Q Garden for guidance in their school work -- definitely a testimony to the trust and confidence parents have in her!
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